Friday, July 4, 2008

volunteer ham radio operators from the putnam emergency and amateur repeater league (pearl) provided on course communications coverage for the 2008 putnam county classic. they were out on the course during the race and provided real time communications between the ems responders and race volunteers.

alex (left) and the volunteers from pearl

emmy, on the phone coordinating volunteers with mahopac falls ems. don, race director of the norwalk summer series, considers possibility of ham volunteers for the longer races (9m, 11m, and half marathon) in the series.

alex_____________________________________here is alex's recap:

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

Today we had a well worked 8 mile run that was organized by the Taconic Road Runners Club in Mahopac. As is our scope of operations, PEARL provided emergency communications for the health and welfare of the approximately 250 runners who participated in this event early this morning mostly around Lake Mahopac. Despite the short notice from the organizers who only recently realized their need for communicators along the route, we were able to generate an adequate turnout of operators in vehicles, on bicycles plus a portable assigned to an ambulance that allowed us to provide excellent support for the event. The event organizers were no less than pleased with our work and I am certain that we will be asked back in the future.

PEARL worked the race course along side with two bike sweepers from the event staff, Carmel PD, PCSO and Mahopac Fall Fire and EMS. Our work during the event was critiqued over breakfast and a number of lessons regarding operating in this terrain were learned. These will no doubt be applied to our future participation in this event. No storm drains were harmed during this event just like no thumbs were harmed during Field Day '07.

Best Regards,

Alex Zagajewski, N2UAOPEARL Information Director______________________________________alex and his team were an invaluable asset to the race!

1 comment:

Alex and his volunteers came through beautifully --we were very lucky that the they are also Brewster EMTs --one thing I have noted for next year -we need course maps. One of Alex's people actually printed such good course maps that the Policemen borrowed 2 copies -we had nothing to give them or the Police --how unprepared is that, especially since they had a nice google map??? Great job, Frank, getting them and good job to the operators.